The “Move” tool in 3D figure

We use the “Move” tool to move objects and you know this by now. To move a figure to a specific location such as on the edge of another figure, first select the whole figure, click an endpoint of this figure, you move the mouse pointer over the edge of the second figure, and click again. This will place the reference point of the first figure at precisely the same height as the reference point of the second figure.

 

Wherever you place it, does not matter, but if you want to place it in a specific position, first click the item you want to align, and then the point where you want to align.

When we move the mouse pointer on the Edge (On Edge), the Endpoint (Endppoint) or the midpoint (midpoint), we can change the shape of the 3D object.
To edit the shape, move the mouse pointer over the point in the figure that you want to change shape (1), click and move the mouse pointer in the direction that you want to change shape and click again (2) when you have achieved this.

You can use the “Move” tool to move, deform and even twist 3D figures.

 

Auto-fold

Sometimes, when you want to deform a 3D figure in a certain direction with the “Move” tool, SketchUp will impose certain constrains on the direction that you want to change the shape.
For example, in the image below, I can only apply the distortion in the vertical axis.

The reason why SketchUp imposes such restraints has to do with the number of fold lines SketchUp will input in the figure.

SketchUp just want to know that you’re sure that you want to move this surface in this direction.

 

If you are sure thatt you want to move, hold the Alt key on your keyboard while you drag the area. This way  SketchUpiss sure you want to do this.

 

From cylinder to cone

To make a cone of a cylinder, we use the “Move” tool.
Place the mouse pointer over the edge of the cylinder.
When it changes into a black border for the first time, you click and drag the mouse pointer.

 

Should it be that the right endpoint (endpoint) is not found in the edge, move the mouse pointer over the mantle of the cylinder, when a blue dotted line appears move your cursor vertically up or down depending on what field you wish to change the size, over the edge. This brings you to the right endpoint (endpoint) in the edge (1).

When this is changed into a black border (2) click for the first time and move the mouse pointer.
When you’ve reached the correct diameter, click a second time (3)

 

To make a cone, move the cursor all the way to the center of the plane. (1)
If you wish the upper surface and the lower surface were proportionally larger or smaller, click anywhere on the blue dotted line in the mantle of the cylinder, move the mouse pointer, and when the proper size is reached click again (2).
If you want to make your cone back into a cylinder, click the blue dotted line in the mantle of the cone.
Move the mouse pointer completely to the center of the cone until a straight wide beam remains (3), then move the mouse back outside.
Click when  the correct diameter for the cylinder is reached (4).

The last step can be replaced by typing a diameter  in the VCB box.

Featured Courses

• Downloading iPad Apps
• Lesson 1: Introduction to Publisher
• Lesson 65: File Formats